Delays dangerous : no to-morrow for the repeal of the test and corporation acts : the safety of the church and the welfare of the state do immediately require the removal of these disqualifying laws ..

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Delays Dangerous.

No Co=morroto

F O R T H E

REPEAL

OF THE

TEST and CORPORATION

A C.T S.

, .,■ r ^r ^.

The Safety of the Church and the Welfare
of the State do immediately require the Re-
moval of thefe difqualifying haws.

Prov'd from Authority, as under.

Many have preach'' d for fame Years pajl, that the Papifts are
better than //^"^ Dissenters ; they hanje /aid this fo long, that
the People take them at their Words, and go en; en a little farther,
and think them better than Churchmen.

^his is one of the principal Caufes ixihy Popery has encreafed
fo prodigioujly of late Years : But vo-zv fame of the mojl difcerning
tf the Qi,zv.GY begin to fee that the Papists are juji ready to

get upon their Backs and nvhen Utter DefruSlion threatens, the

Clergy themfelves may be 'very glad of your (i. e. the Diflenters)
JJpftance. Gazetteer, Jan. zz. 1739.

Lanvs plainly contrary to Truth and natural fuliice may pafs
the ufual Forms, and he ftiled La^vs ; yet no fuch Lanv can abro-
gate that Lanjj of "Nature and Reafon, to nvhich the Author of our
Beings hath fuhjeded us, or make Falfehood to be Truth.

Wool ASTON.

Liberty is a fort of Property, nxjhich, methinks, is as ma-
terial to us to the full, as that nx:hich fecures us our Lands and
Revenues. Ld. Shaftsbury.

LONDON^

Printed fcr D. Farmer, at the Km£s-Arms in 5f. PauVi

Church-Yard. 1739. Price Six Pence,

[ 3 ]

Delays Dangerous.

No Co:=morroio

FOR THE

Repeal of the Test and

Corporation Ad:s.

IN the GentJet?ians Magazine of December
laft, I could not but obferve the two re-
markable Letters there inferted, about the
Repeal of the Teji and Corporation Adts : The
one is call'd, a Letter from a DiJJenter in the
Country, to his Friend in London ; contain-
ing Reafons againft the DifTenters applying
for the Reoeal. The other, is an Abftradtof
Old Common Senfe o^ Dec. 23^^. which contains
Argumenti for the Repeal.

The Refled:ions I have made on the Sub-
jed: arc a^^ follow.

Common Senfe has wifely obferved, " that
" Reajbn and Religion demand to have the
*' Confcience free, and both dtreSi us to re-
" fent every Tax 'tis sncumber'd with, as
*' the moft grievous of all Impofitions." In
this the Diffentcr agrees, for he fays, " thac

B ** chs

[ 4 ]

** the Corporation and Teft ABs are certainiy,
** as they now (land, oppreflive and iniqui-
" tons Laws, and, as fuch, ought to be re-
" peal'd. " — But notwithftanding this, he is
againft the Diflenters diftinguiihing them-
feives, by vigorous Endeavours to procure the
Repeal^ for the following Reafons. As, i. He
thinks that the firft Lay-Nonconformifis firft
■with-held themfelves from the Communion of
the Eftablifli'd Church, from Motives purely
religious, as, for the fake of a purer Worship,
a more fpiritual Difcipline, a better Teach-
ing, Cifr. which he hopes is the Cafe with all
DifTenters at this prefent Day. 2. He thinks
their endeavouring the Repeal, infers a great-
er Odium on them than the Ad:s themlelves,
which they would have repeal'd, as this their
Condud: impeaches them of afpiring, ambi-
tious, avaritious Defires. His 3d Reafon is,
that the prefent Life is a State of Tryal ; and
it is the Will of God that his Servants fhould
be tried. 4. He thinks that all the Inflan-
ces of Lenity and Favour, that DifTenters
have received lince the infamous Bartbolo^
'mew Ad:, have been procured by remarka-
ble Interpofitions of divine Providence, fo
that as thefe A6ls of the Corporation and
T^eli are oppreffive Laws, he believes they
will fome time or other be taken away, but
he would have the DilTenters wait God's
T^inie, which is certainly the firtefl Time.
And 5. he fays, that could the DifTenters ob-
tain

[ 5 ]
tain their Defire, he is afraid the Repeal would
not anfwer the propofed Ends; for, fays he,
worldly Honour is a dangerous Snare, efpeci-
ally to Persons bred in low Life j and
he's afraid as to the moft, would neither con-
tribute to the Purity of their Hearts or Lives;
nay, it were well if it rtiou'd not render them
Jefs pious, and lefs virtuous.

I fliall take fome notice of thefe Reafons
affign'd by a pretended DiiTenter. And as to
the firft, 1 think the ground of original Dif-
fent from the EftabliHied Church, being pure-
ly religious, has nothing at all inconfiftent
with the Point under Confideration, or, witl;
an Attempc of a Repeal : But on the contrary,
is a Reafon why the DifTenters (liould apply 5
for as much as in the Words of this Letter
Writer thefe Lav/s ** occafion a vileAbufe^ an
^' unavoidable Prophanation of one of the
" mofl facred Inftitutions of our holy Religi-
" on." Now this being the Cafe, and the
DifTenters fuppofed to dilTenc, for the fake of
a purer Worfhip, are obliged in Confcience
to do all they can, to have this Prophanation
and Proftitution ren^ov'd, except our Letter
Writer fuppofes, that by the »S'/« oftheLegiJla-
tive Power s aboui^ing, the Grace of the Dif-
fenters 'will much more abound I Will the Re-
moval of fuch vile Abufes appear unworthy
the Attempt cf Proteflant DifTenters? Surely
no, it will rather be a Proof of their confcier^-
tious Regard to the mofl divine Inflicutions.

[ 6 ]

But idly. He fays, " the Attempt will faften
*' an Odium on the DifTenters, and impeach-
" es them of afpiring, avaritious, ambitious
<' Views, ^'hey are to feek that Honour which
" comes from God onhy — > — What mercenary
Scribbler is this ? Can he prove cimil Go'vern-
merit inconfiftent with the pureft Schemes of
Chriftianity ? If he cannot, as I defy him to
do it, then civil OJices are coniiftent with the
Charader of the pureft Chriftians ; and then,
the Dipnters may have a Claim to the Exer-
cife of fuch Office?, as being born equally free,
and equally entitled to all the Privileges of
Society : Unlefs this Writer will prove, that
places of Profit and Truft are only fit for the
wicked and ahandon'd Part of the Nation, who
can without Remorfe continue the moft vile
Abufe, and unavoidable Prophanation of one
of the moft facred Inftitutions of our holy
Religion i and then, if he proves this, what
muft we think of thofe who enjoy Places of

Power and Truft?

Befides, if the Proteftant Diftenters do not
apply, who muft? This Letter Writer tells
us, '' that he is amaz'd at the culpable Indo-
" lence, and (he had almoft faid) irreligious
*' Defe<5t of Zeal in the Clergy of the Church
*' of Engla?2d, that they do not with one Con-
*' fent, petition our Legillators for a Repeal
*' of fuch Laws, which are a Scandal to the
*' Reformation^ and give too juft a Handle to
•' the Libertines and Deifts of the prefenc

*' Age.':

[ 7 ]

*f Age." He owns, that there is a culpable
Indolence in the Clergy, in their not with one
Gonfent petitioning a Repeal ! What hindred
him from a full Charge of irreligious DefeSi
cirZeal^ I cannot difcern j for if there be a
culpable Indolefice, one would think that this
being predicated of a religious Subjed:, tha^ it
would plainly imply in it an irreligious De~
fedi', and if fo, then the Clergy, if juftly
charg'd, are not a Set of Alen from wnom
thefe Attempts are to be expe(fled. And if
^not from them, who are immediately concern
ed as Instruments in xhhvile Abufe ot a io-
lemn and religious Inftitutioji ; then furely
the religious and thinking Part of Mankind
will efteem that Body of Men as deferving
publick Applaufe, who will make this juft,
this religious, this pious Attempt. And akho*
civil or political Benefits may accrue to them-
felves, fhould they fucceed, yet the refcuing
an Ordinance of Chrifl from fuch Prophana-
tion, will deferve the Approbation of every
true Briton and fincere Proteftant.

Can a bigotted Diflike of DifTenters flia-
ring in common their natural Right s^ who
are as hearty in the Interefts of Liberty civil
and facred, as the eftablifli'd Clergy them-
felvesj can this be look'd upon asa Reafon fuf-
ficient to cool their Zeal for the Honour and
Purity of the Religion of Jesus ? If indeed it
can be made appear, that the Clergy of the
Eftablifhment, ^^e better Subje(fls for their

having

r 8 ]

having a Provifion made, and fecured to them
by the Publick ; or, that they, by virtue of a-
ny publick Authority, are inverted vi^ith a
Right of fetting Boundaries to the Liberty of
private Judgment ; or of eftablifhing a pub-
lic Conlcience ; or of giving Laws to Minds,
by Virtue of that their public Authority ; or,
if it can be proved, that this Proftifution of
a religious Inflitution, is by any Grant from
Heaven; or to be defended upon the Princi-
ples of Proteftantifm, or the Reformation ;
then indeed they might have fome fort of
Pretence: Or, coa'd they prove that the Sa-
cramental Teji is any Security of Loyalty, ei-
ther among themfelves, or others that take it
as a Teji for civil Preferments, they might
have fome fort of Plea : But this cannot be
faid by them : They are only afraid that
thofe Principles on which the Reformation
took place, and on which it can only be de-
fended, fliould by this means take a larger
Extent ; and that Liberty and T'mth (hould

become more triumphant. Nothing lefs

than this can be the Obje(ft of their Fear^
for they know that the Protejlant DiJfenterSy
upon the moft juft and equitable Laws of
Reafon, are entitled to the Benefits of the
Community equally with themfelves in all
civil Regards. They know, that for any Le-
gif.ature to be partial in their Regards, and
to make Provifion for the Benefit of one part
of the Subjeft, and at the fame time negled

anotherj

[ 9 ]

another, which other is equally as loyal, as
faithful, and as capable as themfelves, is the
mofl: certain way of introducing Animqfities
and Difcord I And they know that as Mini-
fieri of the Gofpely they have no manner of
Claim to Precedence over others, who are
Chrijtians as well as themfelves, and to fay
the leafl, equally as good Members of Com-
munity.

But alas ! our Letter Writer ftands amaz'd
at their culpable Indolence and irreligious De-
fe6i of Zeal ; nor docs he fee any Ground of
Hope, that they will ever be converted^ fo as
to ftrengthen their Brethren. So far from this,
he has

In the 3^ Place, told us, " that the preje?it
" Life is a State ofTryal\ and it is the Will of
" God^ that in this prefent State his Servants
^^ Jhould be tried. — That it was for this^ among
*' other Reafons^ it was permitted that the Se5i
" of the Nazarenes fiould he every where fpo-

*' ken againji. Pofjibly^ therefore in this

" Day of extenfive Liberty^ God is pleafed to
^^Juffer this Tefi to abide, that by fome evident
*^ Jef Denial^ Dijfenters might have an Occa-
*^ Jiofi of tejiifying to the World the Sincerity of
" their Difjhit from humane Inventions. And
*' yet, he does not fay that if is his Will that
" his moll facred hiftltiition fiould be prophan d^
*' and prof i tilted to ferve low fecular Ends-,
** (let the Guilt of that lie where it is due) but
-" the DifTenters Jhoud have an Opportunity of

*' approving

[ 10 ]

" approving the Sincerity of their ConduSf, and
** of evidencing their dijinterefted Zeal for the
*' Purity of divine Worjhip, by a generous pi-
** ous Contempt of temporal Power or Profit.**

Can any thing be more evident, than that
this Letter Writer would infinuate that the
Coftformijis are not the Servants of God ? for
if they were, it wou'd be rational to fuppofe
it wou'd h& his Will thzt they fliou'd lie under
fome fort of public T>if qualifications for tem-
poral Power and Profit. On the other hand,
we find they are under 7io kind of Difqualifi-
cations or Tryals of the Sincerity of their
Condud: from the Publick : But inftead of
this, it is they that cherifli the Offence, and
it was they who firft gave it being. They
are the Satans who are lofft the Dtjfenters as
Wheat. They are not the SeB of the Naza^
renesy but they who fpeak againft it j i. e.
they, in other Words, are not Chriftians but
Perfecutors of Chriftians, in the Language of
this Letter Writer! and the accurfed thing is
in their own Bofoms ! 'tis to be found only
in the Tent of this Achan I They are fo far
from (liewing a pious Contempt to Places of
temporal Power and Profit^ that they hug the
golden Wedge, and will not part with fo
much as 2i filing of it to the true Ij'raelites.

Strange Realbning ! Mr. DiJJhiter^ what
would you imagine, that any fober thinking
Proteftant can read you without Contempt?
What, are not the Members of the the Efta-

bliHi'd

[ II ]

blifli'd Church in a State of Tryal ? Are not
they the Servants of God as well as Proteftanc
Dilienters? and if they be, (hould not the Dif-
fenters wifli for the Removal of what is To much
to the Reproach and Scandal o^ thoit Brethreriy
as that, of fuch an opefi Prophanation of one of
Chrift's Inftitutions is ? The Continuance of
the Corporation and 'TV/? Acis can never be de-
iign'd by God Almighty as neceflary Means of
trying the Virtue and Integrity of the Diffen-
ters J fince it is matter of great Offence to
Him, to them^ and to all fober, moderate,
judicious Conformifts. Befide, this would alfo
imply in it, that it was the Will of God that
his moft facred Inftitution {hou'd be propha-
ned and proftituted to ferve loiv^ fecular Ends :
i. e. thofe of civil Preferments, in which lies
the Iniquity it felf ; thus, Evil may be fuppos'd
to be done, as the Decree of Heaven^ in order to
procure the good of only one Party of Chrifti-

ans, viz. Protefant DiJJenters.

How " the Counfel of Gamaliel (mutatis
** mutandis) fcems to be good in this Cafe,
" viz. That the Dijfenters jhoii d let this mat-
" ter alone — left haply they be found to fight a-

" gainfi God,''. 1 fee not ; on the contrary,

it is a Conclufion, in my Opinion, no way
fupported. It is no more than a mere Har-
rangue. Can any thing in ih\s Attempt be at-
tended with fuch aConfequence? There is no
Poffibility of it, even in the Senfe of our
Letter Writer i for, if the Laws be oppreffive

C and

[ 12 ]

and iniquitous ; if the Continuance of them
be wicked and injurious ; if this facramen-
tal Teft be a Prophanation and a mle Abufe ;
to endeavour to remove this Guilt cannot be
to fight againft God. The Interefl of Liber-
ty, the Rights of Confcience, the equal Pro-
tection and Favour of Governours, are what
both Reajbn and Religioii demand the Prote-
ftant to contend for, as they are the Caufe of
Truth and of God. — This Writer's Conclu-
iion mud therefore be v^^eak and impertinent,
if not notorioufly wicked.

But perhaps he has here ufed a Figure^ and
intends by God, Men in Power, who are fome-
times called Gods. If fo, then we mud fup-
pofe him to mean, that if the DilTenters fhou'd
apply for the Repeal of thefe difqualifying
Laws, haply they may be found to fight againft,
that is, oppofe the Meafures of the M— y.

To this I anfwer, that if thefe Laws are ini-
quitous, as all Parties, 1 think, muft own they
are ; and if the Proftitution of the Lord's Sup-
per be a great Prophanation of that Inftituti-
on ; then we may be alTur'd, that a M — y de-
termining to fupport any Community onfuch
unequal Dijiributiom of Juftice, and on fuch
unwarrantable Freedoms with the Chriftian's
Sovereign and Lord, may, with infinitely
more Propriety, be faid to fight agamfi God:
And fuch uneoualAdminiftrations can neither
fecure nor promote the Honour of their
Prince y nor the Welfare of their Fellow
2 Subjeds ;

[ 13 ]

Subje(5ls ; but will be attended with dire and
fatal Confequences.

If he fhould mean, that the DiJJ'enters will
be expofed to Publick Refentment by fuch Ap-
plication; and cou'd we fuppofe him to be,
in earnefl: a Proteftant Di(fenter^ we muft
conclude the Man in high VapounX and with
equal Juftice think him afraid of walking
through St. Paul's-Church-Tard^ for fear the
Dome' fhould tumble upon his Head. — We
have a Minijiry\ and great Numbers of the
Conftituents of our Legiflature, who under-
hand the Nature of Government infinitely
better ; who know well the ill Effeds thefe
Laws have all along had in weakening and
dividing the Proteftant Caufe and Intereft.
They know no way of crufiing and perfecu-
ting the Body of Proteftant Diflenters, but at
the Hazard of being crufh'd and devour d
themfelves by the Jaws of Popery; and of
thereby facrificing every Remainder of Li-
berty. They know the firm Attachment of
the auguft Houfe oi Hanover to that of Pr^-
teftantifm^ on which Account the immortal
William fecur'd to it the Entail to the
Crown of thefe Realms! and they cannot be
unappriz'd of the fecret and open Efforts of
the Romanifts at this Day in the midft of us.
*Tis true, if the Government were determin-
ed to crufh the Diflenters ; they have help e-
nough at hand, Men of the Romijh Church,
that are allowed to meet in Thoufands for

C 2 publick

[ H ]

publick MafTes ; they may have looooo of.
that mercilefs butcherly Communion, who
arc eminent in Maffacre! Blood! and Slaugh-
ter! But then, let Proteftants of the Eftablifh".
ment confider, that (liou'd this ever be the
cafe^ their own Religion or Liva muft be the
next Sacrifice. I dillent therefore from our
Letter Writer, and am fully perfuaded that
the Proteftant DiJJenters by their Application
for the Repeal, are far from being in any
Danger of fighting againft God.

If it fliould be yet objected, that there is
another Senfe in which they may be faid to

oppofe or fight againft the M y, viz. in

that there are many dificult Affairs before
them, and this Attempt will render their Af-
fairs more perplexed, and involv'd. I anfwer,
that fuppofing the prefentGonjundlure of Af»
fairs ever fo much perplexed, there is pro-
portionably the more apparent Reafon for this
Application. The Continuance of ihticA^s
is 2l public Crime, and the Guilt public ; and if
•we will admit that there is a Governour of the
World, by whom Kings reign, and Princes
decree Juftice ; it will be but juft Reafoning

in our M- y, under any involv'd Circum-

ilances, to abrogate and repeal any known
iniquitous Laws -, and thereby fpread a greater
Harmony, and ftronger Cement and Friend-
fhip among the Members of the Community.
Nor would this be at all difficult for them to
accomplifh, efpecially, when dAmo^xh^ivhole

Bench

[ ^5 ]

Bench of B-^ps are entirely at their Beck and
Direftion. — With what eafe could our Right
Reverend Paftors recommend the Repeal as
reafonable and fit ? yea, as highly expedient
and neceflary, view'd both in a civil and re-
ligious Light ? And thus prove, that they had
a fincere and juft Regard to their Chara(fter

as Minifters of Chrift.

But the ^th Reafon affign'd by our Letter
Writer againft the Diflenters Attempts, is,
" that he thinks, that all the Inftafices of Le^
" nity and Favoury that Dijfenters have re-
" ceived fince the infamous Bartholomew A<ft,
" have been procurd by remarkable Interpoft-
" tions of divine Providence j fb that as thefe
" A£ls of the Cov^ordiUon and Teft are oppref-
^^ five LawSy he believes they will fome time or
" other be taken away, but that they ought to
" wait God's Tijney Mr. Dissenter, 1 muft
beg leave to differ from you in the Manner of
your expreffing this: You talk of Lenity and
Favour, and apply this to the feveral Relax-
ations of the penal Lawsj and particularly,
to the AB of "Toleration. What do you mean
by Lenity and Favour f You fay zhe Bartholo'
mew AB was infamous ! and fo it was : But
neither it, nor any other difqualifying haw
cou'd be caird fo, if the Proceftant Diffenters
had deferv'd fuch Stigmas of Reproach. But
if they deferv'd no fuch Ufage, then thofe
Laws were all infamous^ as they were unrigh-
teous and iniquitous : And if fo, then any A-

batements

[ i6 ]

batements of the Rigour of them cannot be
look'd upon as Favours granted to the Difien-
ters, they only prov'd the EnaBors of fuch
lefs rigorous Laws, were more honeft than
thofe who enaded the more rigorous ones :
for Lenity and Favour fuppofes fomething
that the Party fubjed to fuch Treatment had
no Right to, upon the Foot of Equity. But
this cannot be faid even of the Eflablifhmenc
of the Toleration in King William's Reign;
or of the Repeal of the Schifm Aci in the

Reign of King George I.- Noj far from

this, for as Old Common Senfe fays, " the A(ft

* of Toleration is not to be efteem'd any great
' Alleviation : For what is that, but acknow-
' ledging Men Innocent, and yet holding the

* Lafi over them as ij they were Culpable ?

* or making a Merit of that as an Indulgence^
' which is in it felf a matter of Right ? — If
' then the DiiTenters are born equally free

* with thofe of anv other Perfuafion, and e-
'qually contribute to the Support ofGovern-
' ment, and Peace of Society, why (hould a-
' ny innocent ^ if not Laudable Point of
' Speculation, iligmatize fo large and ufeful
' a Body of Men trom the reft of his Maje-
'fly's Subjects? I fay jtigmatize ^ becaufe
' Tefls are a fort of negative Punijhments ;
*nay, the rendering a Man incapable of

* Trufls and Offices without the Brand of
' occafional Conformity^ is putting the Mind

to the Torture, tho' the Body efcape, and

" with

[ 17 ]
*' with the fame Reafon and Juftice that this
" Teft was eftablifh'd, as many more may be
** added, as the Exigencies of thofe they are
" to oblige may require." For God's fake, is
Religion a perfonal Thing, or no ? Has God
made Man a moral Agent, and as fuch, pof-
fefs'd of a Power and Freedom of Choice ?
If fo, what civil Power on Earth can ena(ft
Laws to eftablifh Religion ? — It is abfolutely
impoffible ; a civil Power may eflabli(h Mi^^d-i
ikndFcrins^ and thefe may be varied according
to the Tafte and Humour of the civil Power ;
but Religion is a thing of too facred a Nature
to be under their Dire(Sion ; its Province is
the Confciences of Men, and belongs only to
the Jurifdidtion of God, the great Judge of
the World.

Shou'd therefore a civil Fewer enadt a Law
which obliges to Uniformity in Sentiment and
in Modes of religious Worfhip ; this would
be exprefly to deny that Alan is a moral A-
gent J or, as a religious Creature, to have a
Right of Choice ; for as much as the Legis-
lature denies him. this Right; and obliges
him under Pai?is and Penalties to reiign his
moral Capacity, in order to his becoming a
RELIGIOUS Thing of their own fafliioning.
Than which, nothing can be more abfurd 1
Now \iihtA5i of Uniformity was fuch an un-
juft and impious Law as to invade the moft
facred Property of Man, which is grounded
in his very Make, and in his Relation to Al-
mighty

[ '8 ]

mighty God j can we call a Relaxation of fuch
an unrighteous Demandj by a Name that fup-
pofes thisJcf of Uniformity 2, juft and a righte-
ous Law ? furely we cannot : But we (hall do
if, if we admit, as Proteftants and Chriftians,
that the ^i^f which remov'd thefe iniquitous
Obligations from the Subject, is properly a
toleration A6f. To tolerate, is to bear with,
ro fuffer or permit ; and implies in it Favour^
and a Receding Jro?n flriB Jiiftice : Which
can with no Propriety be faid, of Mens being
ailow'd thofe Rights which God and Nature
has made their unalienable Property.

By this, I wou'd not be underftood as infi-
nuating that the ciijil Magijtrate has not a
Right of agreeing upon fome external Form
of Worfliip, and of providing for the due

Support of it on the contrary, I am of

Opinion, that if the Magi/irate or Legijlature
was not fome way to countenance and openly
encourage Religious Worlliip, the thoughtlejs
Rabble would foon degenerate into greater
Degrees of Stupidity and Vice than they are,

even at this Day And I much queftion

whether fo much as the Face of Religion
wou'd remain among our moji Noble and Po-
lite As it flands, they can now and then

vouchfafe to appear as doing Homage to the
great Lord of the World, becaufe it is not
yer become quite unpoiite and unfajhiona-
tie !

t '9 ]

I am therefore far from fuggeftlng that the
Legijlature (hould have no concern about en-
couraging Religion, that I cou'd wifh Religi-
on (hone in its fulled Luftre among our A^^-
bility and Gent'-)K All I have here ofFer'd, is,
chat the Civil Fower has no Right to invade
ihcfole Prerogacive of Heaven, or of violating
the moit facred unalienable Property of any
Individual.

Thus evident is it that the DifTenters are in-
jur'd by iht Corporation and the Tefi JlSfs, and
that they have an undoubted Right to make

a modejt Claim upon the Legiflature.^ To

afk the Repeal as a Favour, and to meanly
folicit for it, as if they defer v'd the Shackles
they vi'ore, is to pay an unrighteous Compli-
ment of both their Innoce?icy and Loyalty. The
Revolution ow'd its Being to them in a great
Meafure ; and fo did the Succeflion of the
preient Family 1 For altho' they had been
rigoroully perfecuted by their Brethren of
the Eftablifhment in King Charles the Se-
cond's Time, yet they threw in their Weight
to the Aid of the Prince of Orange : And have
never been known to defert or betray the Li-
berty of their Country.

Their Importance in the Proteflant Caufe
and Intereft is apparent from the Hiftory of
all Reigns iince the Reformation j for when-
ever 2.uy Def.g?is in Favour of Poj^^r)' have been
concerted at the Helm of Affairs, the Proie-;'
Jlant DiJJenters have, as a firft Step, been hatid'

D etifdi

[ 20 ]

cuff'd: Of the Truth of which, the paffing of
the Schifm Bill was a late remarkable Inftance

If then, Principles of known Fidelity to

the prefent Royal Family, as Proteftant ;
if an hearty Abhorrence of arbitrary defpotic
Power; if an earnefl: Endeavour at all times
to remain as a Buttrefs to the Proteflant Re-
ligion, and the Intereft of it among us, are
fufficient Qualifications and Claims to thefe
free-born Subjeds, for enjoying equal Immu-
nities and Privileges with thofe of the Efta-
blifhment, they have an undoubted Demand
upon the Legiflature for the Repeal

But our Letter Writer fays, they muji wait
God's time for the Repeal.

I anjwer^ in his own Words, in the very
Sentence before, that they are evidently op-
pressive Laws, and as fuch all Times,
or any Time is God's Time for their Repeal ;
unlefs it can be made appear, that God for
any particular Seafon delights in Oppreffions,
Injuries, and Unrighteoufneffes, either in Rer-
fons or Nations. The Time for Reformation,
or a Repeal of iniquitous Laws, is Now, and
cannot be deferr'd to an uncertain Hereafter
with more Propriety, or lefs Stupidity, or
Danger, than the Repentance of a Sinner can
to an Hereafter. And this I'll venture to fay,
that if a public MiJiifler fees the hiiquity and
OppreJJion of any Law in being; he is oblig'd
by Virtue of the Confidence repos'd in him,
to provide a Redrefs with all Expedition; ;. e.
3 if

[ 21 ]

if he would preferve a Confclence void of
Offence towards Almighty God ; his Save-
reign Prince ; and the People under hisAdmi-
niftration. The DifTenters then in making
this Application^ cannot be faid to take the
Work out of God's Hands into their own, as
this Letter Writer fuggefts ; but on the con-
trary, by doing it, they adl with Fidelity as
the Servaiits of God, and as fincere Friends to
the Community.

^thly. Another Reafon of this Letter Wri-
ter s againft the Diflenters applying, is " his
" Fear that the Repeal will not anfwer fully
** fuch valuable Ends, as the fanguine Hopes

** of many are ready to fuggeil." What he

means by the/anguine Hopes of many I cannot
tell J or by the Repeal fully anfwering them.
This however is certain, that if the Teji Law
i)e iniquitous, and a vileProphanation of one
of the moft facred Inftitutions of our holy
Religion J the Repeal of it will anfwer this
valuable End, viz. that the Abufe and Pro-
■phanatton will no longer be render'd unavoi-
dable by a Law; and the Guilt will thereby
be removed from the Conftitution. The Cler-
gy will be reliev'd from bt'ing tht Injlniments
.of this Projiitution -y and Libertines and Deifts
will not have the fame Handle of Offence at
this Evil. Which mufl be own'd to be valu-
able Ends, and worthy of our fanguine Hopes
and Defires. — > — We may fafely add, that the
Profped: of letting the DifTenters into Places

D 2 * of

[ 22 ]

oi Profit and Truft, would not be a Matter uft'
worthy their fanguine Hopes: It would nocbe,
if a mere zealous SupprefTion of Immoralities,
and impartial Diftribution of JuO.ice be wor-
thy our Wifli. The very Stigr};-^ ^,^ Reproach
and Difqualification on the DilTenters is an
effedual Bar in the Way of a mors general
Reformation: This animates Party Zeal ; and
keeps alive the Spirit of Div'iioo cir.d Difcord.

Our Letter Writers Fear is, it feems,
grounded on " the Diflenters Heads being
*• like other Mens Heads, Vv'hich would be
** apt to grow giddy when they gee into Places
** of Power and Truji , and that, at ieaft, if
" they retained their Integrity, they would
" be very apt to relax their feeming Xt^l :
*' Worldly Honour is a dangerous Snare, ef-
** pecially to Perfons bred in Low Life."

Here, I think, we may begin to guefs at
this Writer : And he muft be fome fallen
Spirit transform'd into an Angel of Light :
For you fee, he has put on the Garb of ce-
leftial Sandtity ; he would not have the Dif-
Jenters either touch, or tafte, or handle, any
of thoje Things which are very lawful to be
touched, or tafted, or handled by their Fel-
low Chrijiians and Fellow Subje&s ; as if they
were a luperior Rank of Beings to Conformifts I
bur, by their Coming into Places wou'd be
transform'd into the Likenefs of thofe other
"Men. Thus far the Seraphic Garment covers ;
but unluckily it don't reach low enough to

hide

[ 23 ]

hide the cloven Foot : For he lays, it would
be very apt to relax their seeming Zeal:
Why did he not fay hypocritical Zeal ? And
worldly Honour is a dangerous Snare, he fays,
efpecially, to Perfons bred in low Life.
No Doubt this muft be efteem'd a Compli-
ment made by a Diffenter ! But good Sir,

why this contemptible Sneer? Are DifTenters
lefs acquainted with polite Education than
their Neighbours? Are your Men in Places
of Power and Truft fuch as cannot be equal-
led for good Breeding and fine Parts among
the DifTenters ? Or would you perfuade the
DifTenters to deny themfelves to be naturally
capable of filling up Pojis with equal Repu-
tation with thofe of the Effablifliment ?

I am perfuaded, according to their Numbers
they are as well furnifh'd both with natural
and acquired Abilities,as their Neighboursare?
•And the See of Canterbury has, I think,
more than once prov'd, as well as the Bench
of Bip^ops now does afford Proofs of their
Education fufhciently qualifying for Prefer-
ment. This you mufl be appriz'd of; but as
you thought fuch fort of J'olemn Cant would
ilrongly influence fome weak Minds, it might
.anfwer your Intention; and ferve to hide
your DiQike of the DiJ[e?iters being rendered
more capable oi fupprejjing Immoralities^ and
of being inflrumental in the more impar-
tial Dillribution of Juflice. If you were in
earneft in the Caufe of Liberty and Truth,

and

[ 24 ]

and were convinced, as you pretend to be, of
the Diffemers Juperior Piety and Virtue^ you
muft readily conclude, that every wife Man
that loves his Country, would wiQi them in
Places of Power and Truji ; for as much, as
they wou'd rationally expedl them to prove e-
minent and extenfive Bleffings to the Com-
munity.

On the contrary, we find this Letter Wri^
ter affigning this Reafon againft their being
put into Places of Profit and TruJi , viz.'
" that their Adions being more public, wou'd
•* be more narrowly examin'd, and every Mi-
** flake magnified into a Crime; by means
" whereof many might be offended, and the
" greater Reproach brought upon their Chri-
" flian Profeflion." A kind of Reafoning di-
rectly repugnant to Truth and Virtue, or true
Patriotifm ; for, if the DifTenters be what
he has reprefented them to be, viz. more
pure and holy than their Fellow Chriftians of
the Eflablifhmenr, th^n they are, in the Lan-
guage of our Lord, the Lights of the World,
which fhould not be put under a Bed or a
Bufioel, but in a Candleftick ; whereas, he
wou'd have them hid, and is afraid of having
them as a City Jet on an Hill, or in Places
where their Condud: may be more confpicu-
ous: He is afraid of their A(5tions being ex-
pos'd to too flricfl Examination. O pufilla-
nimous! O guilty Wretch! I am afraid thy
Hands are full of Iniquity, ocherwiTe, why

fhouldft

[ 25 ]

fhouldft thou fear for the DifTenters ? If thou
waft a true Patriot, thou wouldft wi{h the
Diflenters in Places, for the very Reafon thou
affigneft againft it; and wou'dft forefee the
happy Confequences of fuch their Situation
to the Nation in general ! ~

I advife this Letter Writer to review his
Performance, to lay his Hand upon his Heart,
to repent, recant, and then, if poffible, hope
for Remifllon.— —

I now humbly appeal to the Legisla-
ture.

With great Submiffion, the Repeal of the
Corporation and Teji A6fs, is a matter of Right
to which the Protefiant Dijfenters have a
Claim upon the Foot of Reafon, common Ju-
fiice, and true Policy, For, as I have before
cited Old Common Senfe, I beg leave to do ic
again ; " Reafon a.nd Religion demand to have
" the Confcience free, and refent every Tax
** 'tisencumber'd with, as the moft grievous of
*' all Impofitions. 'Tis true, if Men under the
•* Umbrage of Religion, or Liberty of Con-
" fcience, lay down fuch Principles as nacu-
" rally terminate in Adtions deftrudlive of the
" fame Liberty in their Fellow Subjecfts, 'tis
" the Duty of the Magiflrates to reftrain, even
" with Pains and Penalties, the Growth of
** fuch obnoxious Tenets, and in this View
*' the Roman Catbolicks demand the Atten-
" tion of the Government much more than

" the

[ 26 ]

" the Diljenters^ who but honestly en-

** DEAVOUR TO RECOVER THEIR BlRTH-

** RIGHTS. Danger then to the Public being
'^ the only Call the Magiftrate has to inter-
** pofe his Authority in matters of Religion,
" all Ads of Uniformity are Violations of that
" Freedofti, which we are anfwerable for to

** God alone." The Protejiant Diffenten

have a Claim to your Regard, their Demand

arifing from Equity and Right eoufnefs.

His moft facred Majefty King George,
whom God long preferve, knows, that his
Throne has its Foundations in Protestan-
tism. That by our Conflitution, he wou'd
have had no Claim had he been a Papiji,
And he is well affur'd, that the firm Attach-
ment of his August House to the Gaufe of
Religious and Civil Liberty has been its
Glory ! And that the Happinefs and Weal of
his Kingdoms depend on his continuing a
Guardian of their Liberties. And he cannot
but know, that that Part of his People diftin^
gui(h'd by the Name of Protejiant Dijfenters
have always been, and yet are, upon the moft
undoubted Principles of Loyalty, his faithful
Subjecfts ; and have every way an equal Claim
to his Favour with thofe of the Eftablifliment
as to Places of Civil Employ. And that there-
fore thofe difqualifyingLaws of the Corporati-
on and Tejl ASfs, arc an undue Limitation of
his Prerogative ; as well as in theiriT- Ives ini-
quitous and oppreffive. Thatof Confequence,

the

[ 27 ]
the Continuance of thefe Laws, Is weakening
the Foundation and Stability of his Throne.
And whoever, at any time chufe to reprefent
them to his Majejiy in a different Light, are
Enemies to their King and Country.

The Moft Noble the Peers of this Realm^
are many of them aflured of the Truth of
what I have affirm'd, concerning thefe LawSy
and the Reafonablenefs of the humble De-
mand of the Proteftant DifTenters.

Why the Bench of Bijhops fhould oppofe
fuch a Demand, cannot be accounted for upon
any Principles of Piety, Truth, or Virtue.
Wou'd they have the inferiour Clergy diligent,
and fludious, prudent and modeft? there muft
be Encouragement given to a Proteftant Dif-
fenting Clergy; For, thefe latter, as they
have no Provifion made for them by public
Authority^ are oblig'd to be circumfpedt in
their Conduct, as well as fedulous in their
Studies; and innumerable Inflances may be
given, where this has had a Check upon the
Eflablifh'd Clergy : This fort of Emulation
mufl be attended with Advantage to the
Church, and greatly preferve its Credit and
Reputation. Nay, it is matter of Doubc
with me, whether the Face of Proteftant
Liberty will remain among us any longer than
the Interefl of a Proteftant DifTent from a
public Eftablifliment is fupported. The EJia'
blijhment ever fince the Reformation has fet-
tled on its Leei^ and is fo tenacious of eve-

E ry

[ 28 ]

ry of its Forms, Rites, and Ceremonies, that
it is too great an Adventure to attempt to ex-
punge a Verfion of Pfalms made ufe of in the
religious Service ; tho' great Part of them are
in a Drefs and Language now perfedly bar-
barous ! in fo much Danger is it of finking
into great Corruption. And many Inftances
of paft Times may be produc'd wherein its
Recovery has been owing to this Puritannic
Spirit, and the Efforts made by Men who
gave Teftimony againft fuch Innovations by
an open Diffent.

It is indeed pretended by fome of the Sa-
cred Bench, that the>^^ oj Toleration is ef-
fential to the^nVZ/^Conftitution, and that to
make any Infringements on that, is to break
in upon the Conftitution, and to hazard the
Ruin of the whole Fabrick. But with the mofl
profound Submiffion to their Lordships, 1
would ask how it can be made appear, that
an unequal Dijhibiition oj 'Juftice, and an open
Prophanation of a religious Inflitution, can be
cffential to a Britifli, Proteftant, Chriftian

Conftitution ? Was zuy Foreigner that

underflood the Chriftian Revelation, and had
form'd juft Sentiments of Liberty, and the
Nature of Civil Government; was any fuch
Perfon to read over the A^ of Toleration, and
enquire of a Britift) Bifhop, what it meant ?
he would naturally think of enquiring whe-
ther the People io tolerated were not Free-
born ? Or, whether they had forfeited an e-

qual

[ 29 ]
qual Right to Liberty with others, by any
Overt-a(5ts as a Body? Or, whether they em-
braced. Principles deftrudtive of the Govern-
ment under which they liv'd ? If in an-

fwer, the Bifhop fliould be able to fix a £)//-
qualification under any one of thefe Heads;
which we are aflured he cou'd not. — But for
Argument fake, we'll fuppofe he cou'd under
every Article of Enquiry ftiew them difqua-
lified ; what would he fay to the Stranger^
when he ask'd the following Queftion ? viz.
Pray how comes it about, my Lord, that thefe
Criminals^ under thefe negative PunijJoinents,
lliould be able to wipe off the whole Staifi by
once receiving the Lord's Supper according
to your eftablilli'd Form ? will that certainly
convert, enlighten, and ftrengthen them, ir^
their Principles and Capacities, inftantaneouf-
ly ? will that extirpate their heretical, fchif-
matical, and dijloyal Principles and Sentiments ?
1 never heard, my Lord, of the Sacrament fo
applied in my Country; nor do I remember
that Chrift ever intended it fliould be fo ap-
plied in any Country. But I doubt not, my
Lord, but you have good Authority for what
you do ; fince you infift upon it as effential
lo your Conftitution. — -The Stranger, might
yet encreafe his Surprize when he confider'd,
that thefe Criminals thus difqualified, are
ovvn'd by my Lords the Bifiops to be Chriiti-
ans as w^li as themfelyes ; and yet their re-
ceiving the fame Euchari/i in their owi>

E z Churches.

[ 30 1
Churches merely as an Inftitution of Chrift,
can have no fuch Efficacy, as it can, when
receiv'd as a Teji of Civil Capacity enjoin'd

by public Authority,- Should the Bifhop

be required to explain the Circumftances in
which P rot eft ant Dijj enters dilFer from the
Eftablijh'd Church ; and be ask'd, whether he
would not keep his Mitre, if the Govern-
ment {hculd eftablifh a Preibytei'ialYoiva of
Worfhip r I am perfuaded he cou'd not with

Integrity fay he wou'd quit it. Nor cou'd

he be capable of proving Ejifcopacy prefera-
ble to Presbytery^ when it (hou'd be obferv'd
to him, that the very fame Legislature
eftabiifhes both j and both are under the e-
qual Protection of the fame Defender of the
Faith ! unlefs it can be made to appear, that
the River Tweed parting the two Eftabli(h-
ments, has render'd Presbytery the Caufe of
God on the Northern Side, and Epifcopacy

the fame Caufe on the Southern.

Why then fhould thefe People be difqua-
lified on the Foot of mere Caprice and arbi-
trary Pleafure ? There is no Foundation befides
this on which the Toleration Act can be

fupported. Reafon and Juftice, Truth and

Virtue afford it no Place whereon it can reft ;
And yet, forfooth, thefe unreafonable unrigh-
teous Laws, which require a vile Prophana-
tion of one of Chrift's Inftitutions, muft be
efteem'd effential to the Britifh Conftituti-
on !

I

[ 3' ]

I wou'd farther humbly fuggeft to their
Lordfiiips, that they have not only been be-
holden to the Proteftant Dijfenters for the
Support of their Eftablirtiment againft Pope-
ry and arbitrary defpotick Power and Will;
but they muft ever be beholden to them ; for,
ihey have not a fufficient Number of Laity
and Clerg)\ to make a lland againft yacobites^
and fuch who long for another Revolution.
^The Proteftant DifTenters are an important
Ally, and will be yet more fo, if their own
Coalition {hou'd, which I hope in God it
will, take in that ufeful Body of Men called
pickers ; They, as well as the three Denomi-
nations of other DifTenters, are now become
well acquainted with the Nature and Impor-
tance of Britiih, Proteftant, Chriftian Li-
berty

As to the Right Hon. the Commons of Great
Britain.

There are among them a brave Number of
Patriots who openly made a Stand, at the
laft Application in favour of the Repeal. And
I doubt not, but will again readily confent to
remove thefe difqualifying Laws, and from a
full Convidion of the Oppreftion, and Ini-
quity of them, determine their immediate
Abrogation.

It is indeed faid, that the M — y wou'd be
willing to take off the Corporation A5ly from
the Inconvenience they find attending ib ma-

[ 32 ]

ny Burroughs who have the Diflenters exclu-
ded the Magiftracy and Government of them j
and perhaps this wou'd be of great Service
in the Choice of Reprefentatives in general, as
the Diflenters are as little chargeable with
Venality, as any of their Neighbours ; and
more generally vote from a confcientious Re-* J
gard to the good of their Country, than fori;
Hire or Bribery.

But methinks, altho' I wou'd not prefume
to dired:, yet I wou'd humbly hope, that our
Reprefentatives would not felfiflily confine
their Regards to this fingle Advantage ; when
the Removal of the Teji A51 is an Occafion
of a vile Abufe, and an unavoidable Propba^
nation of the moft facred Inflicution of our
holy Religion. This furely will deferve their
Regard; for, altho' they may have taken the
Sacrament themfelves as a Ti?/?, only in Form,
and not confider'd it as a Rite or Injlitution
cf yefus, appointed only for a religious ufe ;
yet when they coniider that it is in Ja5f
a Propbanation , and will and muft be Cr
fteem'd fo, by all fuch v/ho acknowledge
Christ to be the Sole Lawgiver in his
Kingdom or Church ; they will fee the great
Neceflity of eafing every fcrupulous Confci-
ence ; and of removing this Oitence out of
the Britilh State and Church.

I fhall conclude, by addreffing my felf to
the Body of the Protedant D.ijfcnters,

I Your

[ 33 ]

Your DilTent, Gentlemefty is to be defend-
ed on the Right of private "Judgment : Li-
berty of Confcience is your undoubted Right
and Claim, as Men^ ,as Frotejtants^ and more
efpecially as Chriftians. The Principles
on which you condu(ft are no way fubver-
five of Government ; and that faithful and
unblemiQi'd Character which you have hi-
therto fuftain'd by your firm Attachment to
the Principles of the Revolution^ is too con-
fpicuous to admit of any doubt about it. You
have been long under thefe negative Difcou-
ragements, and akho' you have had no Pro-
vifion made for the Support of your public
Worfhip, yet you can boaft, of not ever ha-
ving one Member in Rebellion againft a Pro-
teftant King, whilft he was defending the
Rights of his Subjects; nor concern'd in any
treafonableConfpiracies. The Church of En-
gland found you their hearty Allies in the Af-
fair of the Revolution, and own d you then as
their Brethren : And you have ever been the
Butt oi Jacobite and PopifJj Rage, when times
have moft favour'd the Return of arbitrary
Power and Slavery. Your Neighbours can te-
ilif^f' of your Charity, Love, and Affeftion; of
your Inregricy and Honour j of your Capa-
citicb for "Trade and Commerce, as well as for
Law^ Phyfic and Divinity: Nor would a
Plough- man in the Parifh where you live,
defpile you, or mark you with Reproach, if
his Parfon, or his Prieji-ridden Mafter had

not

r 34 ]

not imbib*d into him horrid Sentiments a-
bout you, and defcrib'd you, as Schifmatics
or Hereticks, Nor would this have been
able to have fix'd the Stigma y if the Po-
pulace had not perceiv*d, that in order to
render the beji of you qualified for any im-
portant Office, either in Corporations^ or for
ihe Country y you muft take the Sacrament
according to the Ufage of the Church of En-
glandy or clfe you muft not be admitted !
This, at the firft View, muft greatly narrow
the Charity of the common People ; and
perfuade them to conclude, that if receiving
the Sacrament in their Church is a neceflary
Qualification for Power and Trztft in this
World, it muft follow, that altho* they are
not themfeives pofTefs'd of affluent Fortunes,
nor are otherwife fit for fuch Employments,
yet, as they have been allow'd by Right of
Baptifm and Confirmation^ to attend this holy
Communion, it will certainly entitle them to
future Happinefs! and muft farther lead them
to efteem all thofe in a State of Unhappinefs,
who are not within the Pale of their own
Church.

This Foundation of fo popular a Prejudice
muft have a very hurtful Tendency in Socie-
ty J and has no one View worthy of a Prote-
ftant Chriftian Church. You have, there-
fore, the higheft Reafon to remonftrate a-
gainft the Continuance of thefe difqualifying
Laws : And till it can be prov'd that your

Ambi-

[ 35 ]

Ambition of ferving your King and Country
in Places of Power and Truft, is more crimi-
nal than that of your Neighbours, or that
you are difqualified either by Reafon or Na-
ture for fuch Services, you may venture to
indulge the laudable Ambition ; and I can fee
no Reafon yfhy you ihould fufpedl your Heads
will be more giddy than your Neighbours. —
Don't be intimidated: — your Caufe is that
of Truths and of God : He has made you for
the Benefit of Society equally with others j
and your Claim being founded in Righteoul^
nefs, you need not defpair of finding an agree-
able Reception.

'Tis true, you have been told, that it will
not be done except mov'd from another Quar-
ter ! but what then ? Suppofe you fhould re-
fer the matter to that other Quarter ; you
have been alfo told by that other Quarter,
that No Time is a proper Time. * To
what purpofe then, your referring it to be
done by thofe others, who have fo long pol-
luted the holy Thing, that they have loft all
Notion of the Sacrednefs of its Nature and

Appointment.- Remonftrate therefore j as

good Subjects you are oblig'd to do it, and
not to Juffer Sin upon your Brethren ; ex-

NotBy The grand Argument of the Gazetteer of Jan. zz.
1739. is to prove, that your nxjaiting a ivhile, Midi your (laying
till Dooms-Day, are convertible Terms, or mean one and the
fame Thing.

t 36 i

pofe the Guilt, and fear not but a British
Senate will approve your Conducft.

You may fFom the fhrone colled: a ground
of Confidence; for, if Mercy ^«^ Truth
preferve /Z?^ King; and bis Throne is upholden
by Mercy y as it certainly does ; then the Want
of Truth or Mercy muft fhake its Founda~
tions.

To conclude, YourCaufe is that of Liber-
ty; Britijk, Protejlant Liberty ! the Corpo^
ration and Teft A5ls are an Infringement on
Liberty ; and as fuch, a Blot and Stain which
is the Reproach of a free People! the Re-
moval of thefe T>iJ qualifications will con-
vince the Nations around us, that our Legif-
lature does efteem Liberty a facred Privilege ;
and thereby it will effedtually baffle all far-
ther Attempts to divide us.

FINIS.

ERRATA.

Page 17. Line 4. inftead of, For God* s fake, is — , read
For God's fake, tell ffie, is. P. 32. 1. 14. inftead of, is an
Occafion, read wou^d take away an Occafton,

VV'-V-

JLSiiSi

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